Method for storing a respiratory mask and respiratory equipment including a respiratory mask and a storage element

ABSTRACT

Embodiments provide methods for storing a respiratory mask. In one embodiment, the respiratory equipment may include a respiratory mask having a front side and a rear side and a cavity having an opening in the rear side. There may also be provided an inflatable harness adapted to maintain the respiratory mask against the user face, and a storage element comprising a housing. In one embodiment, the method may include pulling on the harness on the front side of the respiratory mask in order to place the harness on the respiratory mask in an storage position outside said cavity, and maintaining the harness on the respiratory mask in the storage position and inserting the respiratory mask into the housing of the storage element.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a method for storing a respiratory mask and toa respiratory equipment for aircraft, said respiratory equipmentincluding a respiratory mask, an inflatable harness and a storingelement.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In particular, the invention deals with a method which comprises:

-   -   a) providing a respiratory equipment including:        -   a respiratory mask having a front side and a rear side (at            the opposite of the front side), the respiratory mask            comprising a cavity having an opening in the rear side, the            rear side of the respiratory mask being adapted to be            applied on a user face in a use position in which the user            face closes the opening of the cavity,        -   an inflatable harness adapted to maintain the respiratory            mask against the user face, and        -   a storage element comprising a housing adapted to store the            respiratory mask in a storage position,    -   inserting the respiratory mask into the storage element so as to        place the respiratory mask at a storage place of the storage        element.

The respiratory mask typically worn by aircraft crewmembers must beattached surely and rapidly on the crewmember head. And it must requireonly one hand to be attached; since the other hand of the user isfrequently required for some other essential tasks.

For example, if because of a pressurization failure, the pilot of anaircraft is required to rapidly don his respiratory mask to provide himwith the necessary oxygen for breathing, he often must do so with onehand while his other hand is occupied in controlling the aircraft. Thus,the use of an inflatable head harness has been suggested in order toenable the respiratory mask to be donned using only one hand. Generally,the head harness has substantially a dome shape or an annular shape andis expanded diametrically by the introduction of pressurized gas tocause the harness to increase in size so that it can be positioned overthe head of the user. The gas flow is controlled by a valve attached tothe respiratory mask, and, after enlargement of the harness, therespiratory mask is placed in position against the face of the user,with the harness extended over and spaced from the back of the head.Once the respiratory mask is properly positioned, the pressure in theharness is released, causing the harness to contract and to contact thehead of the pilot, whereby the respiratory mask is securely held in itsproper position. Meanwhile, the other hand of the pilot is free tocontrol the aircraft or to perform such other tasks as may be required.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention aims at improving the efficiency of the respiratory maskdonning and in particular reducing the time of inflation of theinflatable harness.

For this purpose, according to the invention the method for storing therespiratory mask further comprises:

b) pulling on the harness on the front side of the respiratory mask inorder to place the harness on the respiratory mask in an storageposition outside said cavity, and

C) maintaining the harness on the respiratory mask in the storageposition and inserting the respiratory mask into the housing of thestorage element, so as to place the respiratory mask at a storage placeof the storage element.

In the storage position, the harness is pulled which tends to extend theharness and avoids that the harness have a bend. The harness ismaintained substantially in the storage position when the respiratorymask is stored in the storage element. Therefore, the harness is outsidethe cavity of the respiratory mask when it is in the storage element.When the respiratory mask has come out of the housing, the harness isoutside the cavity of the respiratory mask and the harness 20 can beinflated. So, the risk of having a bend of the harness inserted in thecavity of the respiratory mask when the harness begins to inflate isreduced, as long as the occurrence of inflation problem increasing thetime required for inflating the harness.

According to another feature in accordance with the invention,preferably the method comprises:

-   -   providing the respiratory mask with a top edge and a bottom edge        around the cavity, the top edge being opposite the top edge, and    -   placing an upper resting portion of the harness against the top        edge of the respiratory mask in the storage position during step        b).

Thus, the harness is more easily maintained in the storage position andthe subsequent inflation of the harness is quicker.

According to a supplementary feature in accordance with the invention,the method preferably comprises maintaining the resting portion of theharness between the top edge of the respiratory mask and a wall of thehousing of the storage element when the respiratory mask is at thestorage place.

Thus, the harness is more surely maintained in the storage position whenthe respiratory mask is at the storage place.

According to another supplementary feature in accordance with theinvention, the method preferably comprises placing a lower restingportion of the harness against the bottom edge of the respiratory maskand exerting a tension on the harness between the upper resting portionand the lower resting portion in the storage position of the respiratorymask.

Thus, the harness is even more easily maintained in the storage positionand the subsequent inflation of the harness is quicker.

According to another supplementary feature in accordance with theinvention, the method preferably comprises pulling on a connectionportion of the harness away from the cavity on the back side of therespiratory mask, and then in a substantially circular movement pullingon the connection portion of the harness successively:

-   -   above the top edge, and    -   on the front side of the respiratory mask, so as to place the        upper resting portion of the harness against the top edge of the        respiratory mask.

Thus, the harness is efficiently placed in a satisfying storage positionon the respiratory mask.

According to another feature in accordance with the invention, themethod preferably comprises:

-   -   providing the respiratory equipment with a strap having a        catching portion and a connection portion, said connection        portion of the strap being connected to the harness,    -   pulling on the catching portion of the strap during step b), and    -   releasing the strap after inserting the respiratory mask into        the storage element and placing the respiratory mask in the        storage place of the storage element.

Thus, step b) is easier to achieve.

According to a supplementary feature in accordance with the invention,the method preferably comprises:

-   -   providing the respiratory mask with a support supporting the        respiratory mask, and    -   during step c) gripping the support (for inserting respiratory        mask into the storage element) and catching the catching portion        of the strap (for maintaining the harness in the storage        position) with a single hand.

Thus, placing the respiratory mask at the storage place while pulling onthe strap is made easier, since only one hand is required.

According to another supplementary feature in accordance with theinvention, the method preferably comprises fixing the respiratory maskat the storage place before releasing the strap.

Thus, the harness is more surely maintained in the storage position.

According to another supplementary feature in accordance with theinvention, the strap is preferably elastically stretchable.

Thus, it is easier to exert a pulling tension on the harness.

According to another supplementary feature in accordance with theinvention, the method preferably comprises:

-   -   providing the harness with an inflatable tube having two ends        connected to the respiratory mask and forming an harness loop        intended to surround the head of the user, and    -   connecting the connection portion of the strap to the inflatable        tube substantially in the middle of the inflatable tube between        the first end and the second end.

Thus, a substantially equal pulling tension can be easily exerted overthe whole inflatable tube.

According to supplementary feature in accordance with the invention, themethod preferably comprises:

-   -   providing the harness with a second inflatable tube having two        ends connected to the respiratory mask and forming a second        harness loop intended to surround the head of the user,    -   connecting a second connection portion of the strap to the        second inflatable tube substantially in the middle of the second        inflatable tube between the first end and the second end, and    -   simultaneously pulling on the inflatable tube and the second        inflatable tube during step b).

Thus, the harness is more safely maintained on the user head when in theuse position without requiring more care to prevent the secondinflatable tube from entering within the cavity of the respiratory mask.

Moreover, the invention also deals with respiratory equipment. Inaccordance with the invention, the respiratory equipment includes:

-   -   a respiratory mask having a front side and a rear side (opposite        the front side), the respiratory mask comprising a cavity having        an opening on the rear side of the respiratory mask, the rear        side of the protective mask being adapted to be applied on a        user face in a use position in which the user face closes the        opening of the cavity,    -   an inflatable harness adapted to maintain the respiratory mask        against the user face,    -   a storage element comprising a housing adapted to store the        respiratory mask at a storage place, and    -   a strap having a catching portion and a connection portion, said        connection portion of the strap being connected to a connection        portion of the harness.

Therefore, the harness can be more easily placed in a storage positionwhich reduces the risk of occurrence of inflation problem increasing thetime required for inflating the harness.

According to another feature in accordance with the invention, the strapis preferably elastically stretchable.

Thus, exerting a pulling tension on the harness is made easier.

According to the invention, the respiratory equipment has preferably thefollowing features:

-   -   the respiratory mask has a top edge and a bottom edge,    -   the harness is adapted to be placed in an storage position in        which an upper resting portion of the harness is placed against        the top edge of the respiratory mask,    -   the respiratory mask comprises a support supporting the        respiratory mask, and    -   the strap has a catching length between the catching portion and        the connection portion, said catching length being long enough        such that the catching portion of the strap reaches the support        when the harness is in the storage position.

Thus, placing the respiratory mask at the storage place while pulling onthe strap is made easier, since only one hand is required.

According to the invention, the respiratory equipment has preferably thefollowing features:

-   -   the harness comprises an inflatable tube having a first end and        a second end connected to the protective mask and forming an        harness loop intended to surround the head of the user, and    -   the connection portion of the strap is connected to a connection        portion of the inflatable tube substantially in the middle of        the inflatable tube between the first end and the second end.

Thus, a substantially equal pulling tension can be easily exerted overthe whole inflatable tube.

According to the invention, the respiratory equipment preferably furtherhas the following features:

-   -   the harness comprises a second inflatable tube having a first        end and a second end connected to the protective mask and        forming a second harness loop intended to surround the head of        the user, and    -   a second connection portion of the strap is connected to a        connection portion of the second inflatable tube substantially        in the middle of the second inflatable tube between the first        end and the second end.

Thus, the harness is more safely maintained on the user head when in theuse position without requiring more care to prevent the secondinflatable tube from entering within the cavity of the respiratory mask.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features and advantages of the present invention will appear inthe following detailed description, with reference to the appendeddrawings in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates in perspective a respiratory equipment at a firststep of a storing method in accordance with the invention,

FIG. 2 illustrates in plan view the respiratory equipment having aharness placed in a storage position on a respiratory mask, duringinsertion in a storage box,

FIG. 3 illustrates the respiratory equipment with the harness placed inthe storage position on the respiratory mask and the respiratory maskplaced at a storage place in the storage box,

FIG. 4 illustrates the respiratory equipment coming out of the storagebox,

FIG. 5 illustrates the respiratory equipment in a use position,

FIG. 6 illustrates at enlarged scale a portion referenced VI in FIG. 5,

FIG. 7 illustrates a variant of respiratory equipment having the harnessplaced in the storage position on the respiratory mask and therespiratory mask at a storage place in a storage cup.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 to FIG. 6 illustrate a respiratory equipment 1 placed in a cabin9 of an aircraft and essentially comprising a respiratory mask 10, aninflatable harness 20, a storage element 30 and a strap 40.

The respiratory mask 10 shown in FIGS. 1 to 6 is a full face respiratorymask and includes a support 11, an on-demand regulator 12, an oronasalface piece 14 and an eye protective shield 16 fixed to the support 11.

The support 11 is rigid, supports the oronasal face piece 14 and forms ahousing containing the on-demand regulator 12. The support 11 includestwo opposite gripping surfaces 11 a, 11 b. In order to hold therespiratory mask 10, the user 8 may pinch the support 11 by pressing onboth gripping surfaces 11 a, 11 b. Gripping surface 11 a is part of alever which can slightly rotate when it is tightly pressed.

As shown in particular in FIGS. 1 and 5, the eye protective shield 16includes a transparent lens 18 and a peripheral flange 17 having an edge19 including a top edge portion 19 a, a bottom edge portion 19 bopposite the top edge portion 19 a and side edge portions extendingbetween the top edge portion 19 a and the bottom edge 19 b.

The respiratory mask 10 has a front side 10 a and a rear side oppositethe front side 10 a. As shown in FIG. 1, the oronasal face piece 14comprises a cavity 13 having an opening in the rear side 10 b of therespiratory mask 10. The eye protective shield 16 comprises a cavity 15having an opening 15 a on the rear side 10 b of the respiratory mask 10.The opening 15 a is surrounded by the peripheral flange 17. As shown inFIG. 5, the rear side 10 b of the respiratory mask 10 is intended to besealingly applied on a lace 8 c of a user 8 in a use position. In theuse position, the oronasal face piece 14 is sealingly applied on theface 8 c of the user 8 around the nose and the mouth of the user 8, sothat the user 8 breathes the respiratory gas which is in the cavity 13.Moreover, in the use position, the peripheral flange 17 is applied onthe face 8 c of the user 8 around the eyes, so that the opening 15 a isclosed by the face 8 c of the user 8. The opening 15 a is substantiallypart of the separation plan extending between the front side 10 a andthe rear side 10 b of the respiratory mask 10.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 6, the cavity 13 of the oronasalface piece 14 and the cavity 15 of the eye protective shield 16 aredistinct. But in an alternative embodiment, the cavity 13 of theoronasal face piece 14 and the cavity 15 of the eye protective shield 16may be put together.

The respiratory equipment 1 further comprises a gas supply tube 2. Thegas supply tube 2 is flexible and comprises an upstream end 2 a and adownstream end 2 b. The gas supply tube 2 is connected at the upstreamend 2 a to a source of pressurised respiratory gas 4 (in particularoxygen) through a supply line 6. The downstream end 2 b of the gassupply tube 2 is connected to the regulator 12, so that the cavity 13 ofthe oronasal face piece 14 is supplied in respiratory gas through theon-demand regulator 12 in accordance with the requirement of the userbreathing.

The harness 20 comprises an upper inflatable tube 22 and a lowerinflatable tube 24, each inflatable tube 22, 24 forming a loop having afirst end 22 y, 24 y and a second end 22 z, 24 z connected to thesupport 11. As shown in FIG. 5, in the use position each of the upperinflatable tube 22 and the lower inflatable tube 24 surrounds the headof the user 8. The regulator 12 comprises a valve to selectively connectan internal chamber of the inflatable tubes 22, 24 with a source ofpressurised gas for inflating the harness 20 upon actuation of the leverincluding the gripping surface 13 a or to the ambient air of the cabin 9for deflating the harness 20 upon actuation of the lever including thegripping surface 13 a upon releasing of the lever including the grippingsurface 13 a. In the embodiment illustrated, the source of pressurisedgas supplying the inflatable tubes 22, 24 is the source of respiratorygas 4 as described for example in WO99/58197. In an alternativeembodiment, the inflatable tubes 22, 24 may be supplied in pressurisedgas by an autonomous source of pressurised gas as described for examplein WO2008/017630.

The harness 20 further comprises non-inflatable elements forming spacers26, 28, each connected at an upper end to the upper inflatable tube 22,away from the first 22 y and second 22 z ends of the upper inflatabletube 22 and at a lower end to the lower inflatable tube 24, away fromthe first 24 y and second 24 z ends of the lower inflatable tube 24. Thespacers 26, 28 are in resilient material, such as rubber or elastomericmaterial. Preferably, the spacers 26, 28 have a tubular shape ofcircular section cross section.

The harness 20 further comprises a lateral strap 27 connected at each ofits two ends to the upper inflatable tube 22. The lateral strap 27extends over the head of the user 8 in the use position.

The strap 40 comprises a catching portion 42, a first connection portion44 connected to a connection portion 23 of the upper inflatable tube 22and a second connection portion 46 connected to a connection portion 25of the lower inflatable tube 24. The catching portion 42 forms a freeend of the strap 40, the second connection portion 46 forms an oppositefree end of the strap 40, and the first catching portion 44 isintermediate between the catching portion 42 and the second connectionportion 46 of the strap 40.

The strap 40 is advantageously elastically stretchable, so that the user8 may easily exert a tension T on the harness 20 by exerting a pullingforce on the catching portion 42 of the strap 40, as illustrated byarrow F in FIG. 2.

The first catching portion 44 is connected to the upper inflatable tube22 substantially in the middle of the upper inflatable tube 22 betweenthe first 22 y and second 22 z ends, the connection portion 23 beingsubstantially at the apex of the loop formed by the upper inflatabletube 22. The second catching portion 46 is connected to the lowerinflatable tube 24 substantially in the middle of the lower inflatabletube 24 between the first 24 y and second 24 z ends, the connectionportion 25 being substantially at the apex of the loop formed by thelower inflatable tube 22. So, the pulling force F exerted on the strap40 causes a substantially uniform tension T on both upper 22 and lower24 inflatable tubes.

The storage element 30 has an internal housing 32 delimited by a backwall 38 and a peripheral wall 34. In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS.1 to 6, the back wall 38 is intended to rest on the floor of the cabin9, so the back wall 38 forms the bottom of the housing 32. The housing32 is in communication with ambient air of the cabin 9 by an opening 36at the opposite of the back 38.

In order to store the respiratory mask 10 in the storage element 30, asshown in FIG. 1, first the user 8 holds the support 13 with a first hand8 a and pull on the strap 40 with a second hand 8 b. So, the user 8pinches the support 13 with the first hand 8 a by pressing the oppositesurfaces 11 a, 11 b on the front side 10 a of the respiratory mask 10,pinches the catching portion 42 of the strap on the rear side 10 b ofthe respiratory mask 10 and move his two hands away from each other.Therefore, the user 8 simultaneously pulls on the connection portion 23of the first inflatable tube 22 and on the connection portion 25 of thesecond inflatable tube 24 of the respiratory mask 10 away from therespiratory mask 10 and in particular away from the cavities 13 and 15.

Then, the second hand 8 b of the user 8 follows a substantiallysemicircular movement going above the respiratory mask 10 while pullingon the connection portions 23, 25 of the harness 20. Therefore, the user8 successively pulls on the catching portion 42 of the strap 40 far fromthe front side 10 a, above the top edge 19 a and then on the front side10 a close to the support 11.

The strap 40 has a catching length between the catching portion 42 andthe connection portion 44 which is long enough to enable placing thecatching portion on the support 11 when the harness in the storageposition.

So, as shown in FIG. 2, then the user 8 pulls on the catching portion 42of the strap 40 and holds the support 11 with the same hand 8 a. Theharness 20 is thus in a storage position in which two upper restingportions 22 a of the upper inflatable tube 22 rest on the top edgeportion 19 a of the eye protective shield 16 and two lower restingportions 22 b of the upper inflatable tube 22 rest on the bottom edgeportion 19 b of the eye protective shield 16.

The user 8 exerts the pulling force F on the strap 40 which causes thetension T exerted on the harness 20 between the upper resting portions22 a and the lower resting portions 22 b of the upper inflatable tube22, therefore preventing the upper inflatable tube 22 from entering intothe cavity 15.

In FIGS. 2 and 3, the resting portion 22 a of the upper inflatable tube22 is shown slightly remote from the top edge 19 a o of the eyeprotective shield 16 in order to make the representation moreunderstandable. But in actual fact the upper resting portions 22 a ofthe upper inflatable tube 22 rest on the top edge portion 19 a of theeye protective shield 16.

Then, the user 8 inserts the respiratory mask 10 in the housing 32 ofthe storage element 30 while pulling on the strap 40 for maintaining theharness in the storage position and places the respiratory mask 10 atthe storage place as shown in FIG. 3.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 6, the back wall 38 being thebottom wall of the storage element 30, when the respiratory mask 10 isat the storage place, the eye protective shield 16 of the respiratorymask 10 rests on the back wall 38 of the storage element 30 through theresting portions 22 a of the upper inflatable tube 22 which ismaintained between the top edge 19 a of the respiratory mask 10 and theback wall 38.

Then, the user 8 releases the strap 40 and the support 11. As shown inFIG. 3, the respiratory mask 10 is stored in the housing 32 of thestorage element 30 at the storage place and the harness is maintained inthe storage position on the respiratory mask 10.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 6, the storage element 30 is astorage box having at least one door, preferably two doors hingedbetween an open position and closed position, to selectively close theopening 36. Preferably, the doors include a notch through which extendsthe support 11 in the storage position, so that the user may grasp thesupport 11 of the respiratory mask 10 without opening the doors.

When required, the user 8 grasps the respiratory mask 10 by the support11 and pull the respiratory mask 10 towards him through the opening 36.In the embodiment illustrated, the user 8 rotates the respiratory mask10 while pulling the respiratory mask 10 towards him as shown in FIG. 4.The harness 20 progressively deploys and falls due to gravity. So, theharness 20 is maintained away from the cavity 15 of the eye protectiveshield 16.

Then, the user 8 presses the lever the lever including the grippingsurface 13 a to inflate the harness 20 and then the user applies therespiratory mask 10 on his face 8 c, in a use position. In the useposition, the whole retaining device 40 is release from the respiratorymask 10.

As shown in FIG. 5, in use position, the strap 40 is still secured tothe harness 20, the portion of the strap 40 between the first connectionportion 44 and the second connection portion 46 extending opposite therear of the user head and being slightly tight. The portion of the strap40 between the first connection portion 44 and the catching portion 42is hung up from the connection portion 23 of the first inflatable tube22 outside the portion of the strap 40 between the first connectionportion 44 and the second connection portion 46.

The embodiment shown in FIG. 7 differs from the embodiment in FIGS. 1 to6 in that the storage box is replaced by a storage cup deprived of doorand having a the back wall 38 opposite the opening 36 forming asubstantially vertical wall.

When the respiratory mask 10 at the storage place shown in FIG. 7, thesupport 11 is releasably maintained relative to the storage cup 30thanks to an abutting flange 11 c. Otherwise, the harness 20 is in thestorage position and the upper resting portion 22 a of the harness 20 ismaintained between the top edge 19 a of the respiratory mask 10 and atop wall 34, of the housing 32 of the storage element 30.

When the user wants to don the respiratory mask, the user pullstherefore the respiratory mask 10 towards him without substantiallyrotating the respiratory mask 10.

Of course the invention is not limited to the embodiments illustratedfor illustrative and not limitative purpose. For example, the strapcould be a rope having a substantially circular section instead of aflat and elongated section as the strap shown in the embodimentsdescribed above.

1.-16. (canceled)
 17. Respiratory equipment including: a respiratorymask having a front side and a rear side, the respiratory maskcomprising a cavity having an opening on the rear side of therespiratory mask, the rear side of the respiratory mask being adapted tobe applied on a user face in a use position in which the user facecloses the opening of the cavity, the respiratory mask further has a topedge and a bottom edge and comprises a support, an inflatable harnessadapted to maintain the respiratory mask against the user face, theharness being adapted to be placed in a storage position, and a storageelement comprising a housing adapted to store the respiratory mask at astorage place, wherein the respiratory equipment further includes amember having a catching portion and a connection portion, saidconnection portion of the member being connected to a connection portionof the harness, the member has a catching length between the catchingportion and the connection portion, said catching length being longenough such that the catching portion of the member reaches the supportwhen the harness is in the storage position.
 18. The respiratoryequipment according to claim 17 wherein: the harness comprises aninflatable tube having a first end and a second end connected to therespiratory mask and forming a harness loop intended to surround thehead of the user, and the connection portion of the member is connectedto a connection portion of the inflatable tube substantially in themiddle of the inflatable tube between the first end and the second end.19. The respiratory equipment according to claim 18 wherein: the harnesscomprises a second inflatable tube having a first end and a second endconnected to the respiratory mask and forming a second harness loopintended to surround the head of the user, and a second connectionportion of the member is connected to a connection portion of the secondinflatable tube substantially in the middle of the second inflatabletube between the first end and the second end.
 20. The respiratoryequipment according to claim 17 in which the harness is adapted to beplaced in a storage position in which an upper resting portion of theharness is placed against the top edge of the respiratory mask.